Dal Palak

 

Dal palak or palak dal must be one of the most popular comfort foods in India. Everyone has their own version of this dish. Hot rice and this dal make one of the most soothing and fulfilling combination. I have tried it many times with different dals like moong, chana, tuvardal or with combined dals. Every version I like it! and also tasted it. . Both Dal and spinach are healthy, light, visually pleasing and nutritious. It can even be a side dish for lunch.

Ingredients:

Moong  dal- 1cup

Palak/spinach-2 cups chopped

Onion-1 chopped

Tomato-1 chopped

Ginger-green chili paste-1tsp

Red chili Powder-1tsp

Coriander Powder-1tsp

Turmeric Powder-1/2tsp

Garam masala Powder-1/2tsp

Salt to taste

Oil-2tsp

Cumin seeds-1/2tsp

Method:

1.Cook Moong  dal and palak  separately

2 Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, add cumin seeds and as they splutter, Add the chopped onions and ginger-green chilli paste and saute for 3-4 mts.

3 Add red chili Powder turmeric pwd, coriander pwd ,cumin pwd and garammasala powder combine and saute for 3-4min.. 

4.Add chopped tomato and saute for another 3min. Cook covered for 2-3 min till tender. Keep the flame low.

5.Add the cooked dal along with salt and half a cup of water and combine cooked palak cook uncovered till it gets mix well with the masala cook on low to medium flame till it get desired consistency..

Serve with rotis or Plain rice.

Mint Ginger lemonade

Mint Ginger lemonade is awesome refreshing summer cooler made from lemons, water, sugar and fresh ginger juice with mint. It infused with the flavors of ginger and mint with a zest of lime is a booster that energizers your systems. For those who do not want to add sugar can replace sugar with honey or any sweetener of your choice.

 

Ingredients:

Fresh mint leaves- 5 to 6sprigs

Fresh ginger- 2 inch

Honey- 1 tbsp or

Granulated sugar-5to 6 tbsp

Fresh lemon juice

Lemon slices and fresh mint for garnish

Method:

Crush mint leaves, ginger in 1/2 glass of water and bring it to a boil

Stain the water and place it in a large bowl

Add the lemon juice, sugar / honey and enough cold water .Stir well until the sugar get dissolved

Chill in the refrigerator

Put this mixture in a serving glass. Garnish with few mint leaves.

Its just refreshing on a hot summer day.

 

To decorate glass edge,make the edge wet with the help of water.In a bowl take some good amount of sugar.Dip the edge of glass into it and put it in freeze foe 15-20 min..Take it out just before serving.

Eggless Vanilla Cake with Cream Frosting

Eggless Vanilla Cake with Cream Frosting

 I baked this egg less  vanilla cake yesterday after a long time:)

Ingredients:

Maida - 1 cup

Baking Powder - 1 tbsp

Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp

Milk- 1/2 cup

Butter - 3/4 cup

Condensed milk-200gm

Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp

For decoration:

Butterscotch-1/2 cup

Chocolate chips handful

For Whipped Cream Frosting:

Heavy whipping cream - 1 cup

Vanilla Essence - 1/2 teaspoon

Icing Sugar - 1/2 cup

Method:

1.Take Maida, Baking Powder, Baking Soda together. Sieve it in a large  bowl.

2.Take a deep bowl or container and pour melted butter in it. Add condensed milk to it and stir it nicely with a wooden spoon or a hand mixer. Then add milk and mix for another 2 minutes.
3.To this mix add the sieved dry contents. Add the Vanilla essence and give it a good stir for a minute so that everything is uniformly mixed.

4.Keep a cake baking pan greased with butter and dusted with flour ready before starting to make the cake batter. Pour the cake batter into it. Insert the cake pan into preheated oven. Bake the cake at 180 degree C for 20-25 min.
5.Switch off the microwave and allow the cake to cool down. To ensure that the cake is done, insert a tooth pick into it. The tooth pick has to come out nice and clean. Keep it in the refrigerator for around 20 min.

6.To make the icing, take a large bowl and place the whipping cream, vanilla extract, and sugar and mix well. Beat the mixture until stiff peaks form.

7.Refrigerate the icing for 30 min.Sprinkle the sugar syrup generously over the cake but do not over do it. Sugar syrup helps in keeping the cake moist. 

8.Now spread the whipped cream over it into a smooth layer. Use a knife to spread it.. Spread the cream on the side of the cake and use a knife to smooth out any irregularities and give a fine finish. 

9.Now, decorate the sides of the cake with the butterscotch over the cream layer.. Refrigerate the cake for half an hour.
Slice and serve.

Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

I wanted to try something new…more on the whole food option. It should be healthy vegetarian dish. I saw this recipe on Food Food Tv channel, as it was a healthy dish and so end of it, I decided to give it a try. It came out very well at my first try, it is really simple and tasty dish and Content of this recipe is light; Fresh tomatoes and basil, mixed with all sorts of goodness, delivered a wonderfully clean taste. I have become a fan of the deliciousness of this spaghetti with tomato sauce.

 

INGREDIENTS

  For the tomato sauce

 Tomatoes – diced 5

 Peas- handful

 Garlic clove-1

 Onion-    1

Water-    1/2 cup

 Bay leaf- 1

Sugar-    1/2 tsp

Basil leaves-    4-5

Onions – chopped-    1 tbsp

Chopped garlic-    1/2 tbsp

Salt and pepper to taste

 Olive Oil – 3 tbsp to sauté

Mix herb- 1 tsp

fresh basil, julienned-few    

                       

  For the spaghetti

Ingredients:

Whole wheat spaghetti-300 gms

3 cups water or as required by the pasta to boil

Pinch of salt

Method For the tomato sauce:

Cook the tomatoes in a pan.

Add the clove of garlic, onion and bay leaf to it.

Add water and then season with salt and sugar.

Cover and let the tomatoes boil.

Cool and then grind to a puree.

Now in a separate pan, heat oil and add cooked peas ,chopped onions and chopped garlic.

Add the tomato puree. Cook till its reduces to half.

Add basil leaves and mixed herbs keep aside.

 

Method for Spaghetti

1.Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil, and add the whole wheat spaghetti to it. Cook it uncovered until done.Usually  it will cook about 12 minutes, but whole wheat can take longer, depending on the brand.

2.While the spaghetti is cooking, start the sauce.

3.Check the sauce for seasoning, and turn off the heat once the sauce has thickened;Now add the spaghetti to the sauce

4.Toss the spaghetti in the sauce until it is well coated. Add the freshly chopped basil and toss Turn off the heat and drizzle with some more olive oil if you wish

5.Add spaghetti and serve in a bowl, Feel free to spice it up with herbs , basil and  coriander.